Self-adjusting eyeglass-frame



(Model.)

I. W. NOLTE.

SELF ADJUSTING EYEGLASS FRAME. No. 407.789. Patented July 30, 1889.

.Attes-t Inventor,

4 I E004 3% I N. PETERS. Phum-Limnm her, Washinginn, D4 c.

'on which said spring-frame fulcrums.

UNITED STATES FRED W. NOLTE, OF ST.

PATE T QFFIGE.

LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SELF-ADJUSTING EYEG LASS-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 407,789, dated July 30, 1889. Application filed July 17, 1888. Serial No. 280,162. (Model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED W. NoLTE, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Self-Adjusting Eyeglasslhames, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to devices for an eyeglass frame with a bridge-connection and self-adj usting pivotal spring nose-pieces; and

the invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and point-ed out in the claims.

Figure I is a front View of my eyeglassframe and shows the bridge and nose pieces in position. Fig. II is a back view of the.

same and shows the means of attachment of the bridge and of the pivotal spring nosepieces, the latter in their contracted position previous to seating on the nose of the wearer. Fig. III is a like View showing the nose-pieces expanded apart ready for placing on the nose. Fig. IV is an enlarged horizontal section taken 011 line 1V IV, Fig. II, and shows the bridge and spring attachment. Fig. V is an enlarged inclined section taken on line V V, Fig. II, and shows the pivoted clip that holds the spring-frame of the nose-pieces, and Fig. VI is a horizontal section, taken on line VI VI, Fig. IV, with part broken-away, and shows the spring nose-pieces embracing the anglepin of the bridge and its loose end backed against the inner course of the bifurcated strap that couples the bridge and nose pieces. Fig. VII is an enlarged perspective disconnected view-of some of the novel associate parts used in the construction of my self-ad justing eyeglass-frame and shows the bridge,

the spring nose-piece, the clip for the attachment of said nose-piece to the frame, and the bifurcated strap hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar figures of reference indicate like parts in all the views, 1 represents the individual glassframes, which may have the usual inner channel-groove for embracing the glass, or made of round wire for embracing grooved lenses. Screw-lugs 2 tighten the glasses when secured the angle-pins 9, that project inward from said stems, engage within the slots 10, which are formed by the forks 11 of the bifurcated straps 5, and said pins move back and forth within the slot 10 as said glass-frames 1 are moved toward and from each other. i

12 represents the spring-frames that constitute the nose-pieces, (for the retention of the eyeglasses in their operative position,) the closed loops 13 on the fast ends of which embrace the angle-pins 9, and the curvilinear semi-loops 14 at the loose ends of which press against the inner surface of the rectangular bifurcated loop-straps 5, the frame constituting a reactionary loop-spring.

15 represents clips that embrace the springframe of the nose-pieces near the middle of their rear attached sides, and said clips are secured to the frames of the glasses by screws 16, which pass through the perforated lugs 17 of the clips and screw into the lugs 18, that project from the glass-frames.

19 are the cushions 0f the noscpieces,which may be made of cork, rubber, or any other suitable substance, and they are secured to the spring-frame by rivets 20, or by other suitable means, on its loose side, to provide a soft elasticcushion for contact with the nose.

The great difficulty hitherto experienced of the construction and coupling of eyeglasses by a similar bridge to that used in the construction of spectacles is overcome in this invention by means of the self-adjusting glassframes which slide to and from the bridge on the stems 7 and pins or pivots 9, and the selfadjusting pivoted and fulcrum-spring nosepieces. All kinds of bridges-such as snake, saddle, band, arch, C, K, X, &c., as best adapted for the use of the wearer-are (unlike with the common eyeglasses) well suited for this invent-ion.

It willbe seen that when the glass-frames ions they carry) at an increased ratio to that above, thus conforming to the requirements of the nose of the wearer and to the alternating expansion and contraction of the nostrils in breathing. curve of the bridge always retains its central position, for the expansion is evenly effected on either side, so that the curved seat rides the nose without frictional movement, and consequently will not gall the same or throw the glasses out of position. The nose-pieces are-not only self-adjusting, but they, as well as the bridge, are easily detachable and interchangeable for others of a different shape, &c., by the withdrawal of the single screws that secure the clip attachments. The loop attachment of the spring-frameof the nosepiece around the pin 9 that angles from the bridge-stem, and also its loose end, keep the plane of the lenses outof divergence from the straight or true line during the going and coming movement of the frames 1 and nosepieces.

In fact, it will be seen that the self-adjusting and adjustable movements of the various coacting parts, while they admit of a free and easy movement in the desired expansion and contraction of the parts, also prevent the tilting of the lenses out of position or into an adverse angle to the line of vision.

The bifurcated loop-straps, in which the angle-pin of the bridge travels, in conjunction with the aforesaid action of the spring-loops of the nose-pieces, enforce the retention in position of the lenses when on the nose of the wearer. The eyeglass is thus made to set perfectly straight before the eyes of the wearer, which is essential to all persons wearing cylindrical lenses, as such lenses are used to correct an error of refraction of the eye, called astigmatism. The axis of the lenses must therefore set at a certain angle before the eyes.

It will be seen that my loop-spring nosepieces provide facilities for opticians to change the set of the nose-pieces by a change in the curves of the spring-loops to accommodate the wearer; also, by the withdrawal of the attachment-screw, more orless prominent nose-pieces may be made to replace those that do not constitute a good fit. The nose-frames and bridge can also be readily adjusted either to a higher or lower pitch, either for distance or reading and writing glasses.

The nose-piece is adjustable to any-shaped nose. For instance, should the nose be thicker where coming in contact with the bottom of It will also be seen that the.

the nose-piece, the opticianbends the nosepieces back to fit the nose and toallow the eyeglass to close up. If, on the contrary, it is thicker at the top, the nose-piece will give way, as it hangs loose within the bifurcated strap-loop.

The springs in my eyeglasses act direct on the sides of the nose, instead of other spring frames that act only from above, and cannot, therefore, (as are these,) be as efficiently'under control, and by the said side (instead of top) adjustment and the nose-pieces being set back of the plane of the lenses said lenses are thrown farther forward out 'of interference with the lashes of the eyes; also, the said side grip of the nose-pieces, with their pivotal fulcrum attachment, provides a more secure hold for the glasses with more ease to the wearer.

By,combining side loop-springs with the nose-pieces I obviate the necessity of spiral, arch, or any. form of surmounting spring, that is both liable to get out of repair and injuriously presses down on the nose, instead of, as does the present invention, on its side, and loop-springs being used the tension is held for a much longer time than it could be with spiral springs.

As the bridge and nose pieces are detachable and interchangeable, opticians can, after the removal of the single screws that secure the fulcrum-clip, change the parts, a larger, deeper, shallower, or other style of bridge being easily attached; also a longer, shorter, broader,or narrower nose-piece. The eccentric movements of the sliding bridge, the springbearing traveling pivot-pin it carries, with the attachment-clip on which said spring fulcrums to effect, in an increased ratio, the relative lower expansion of the nose-cushions, all coact to accommodate the seating of the eyeglasses, and are conducive to the ease and convenience of the wearer.

When the nose of the wearer is heavy at top, the springs press outward and present the nose-pieces and their cushions in the position shown inbroken lines in Fig. I.

I claim as my invention 1. In eyeglasses, the bridge having connecting-stems, and the sliding bifurcated loopstraps, within which the connecting-stems of said bridge fit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In eyeglasses, the combination of the bridge having connecting-stems, the bifurcated loop-straps, within which loops the connecting-stems of said bridge fit, the angle-pins projecting inward from said stems into the bifurcations of said loop-straps, and the reactionary loop-spring nose-pieces, whose fast ends are secured to said angle-pin, and whose loose ends spring against and within said loopstraps, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In eyeglasses, the combination of the bridge having connecting-stems, the bifurcated loop-straps, within which the connecting-stems of said bridge fit, the traveling angle-pin at the terminals of said stems of the bridge projecting into said bifurcations, the

reactionary loop-spring frames constituting the nose pieces, the said frames pivotally looped around said angle-pins, the loose end of said spring-loop pressing against and within said loop-strap, the clips 15, embracing the spring-loops near the middle of their attached sides, and the screw attachments by which said clips are secured to lugs that project from the eyeglass-frames, the said clips providing a fulcrum attachment to secure the relativelyincreased expansion and contraction of the lower part of the nose-pieces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In eyeglasses, the combination of the frames 1, the spring-loop nose-pieces, the loopstraps secured to said frames and having bi- 2o furcations, the bridge-piece having connect- FRED W. NOLTE.

In presence of BENJN. A. KNIGHT, SAML. KNIGHT. 

